Springfield police arrest 2 men involved in "near riot"

SPRINGFIELD - Police arrested two people early Sunday morning for disorderly conduct after more than 150 people became involved in a near riot with police and a gun fired, according to a state police officer in the Springfield barracks.

The two arrests took place at 2:15 a.m. Sunday on Worthington Street at Stearns Square, according to Springfield police records.

Springfield police Lt. Robert Strempek said the arrests happened soon after the bars closed along Worthington Street. A state police officer from the Springfield barracks who declined to give his name described the scene as a "near riot" which resulted after police attempted to arrest a man for disorderly conduct.

A shell casing from a gun fired at the scene was also recovered, Strempek said.